John Warchus, a partner at Moore Blatch LLP, discusses how contracts may be affected by the current coronavirus crisis in the UK, and how parties can deal with the subsequent fallout.

As coronavirus quickly develops from a local to a global threat with tragic human losses, there are also increasing commercial concerns in relation to the ability of parties to carry out contracts.

In particular, the coronavirus outbreak is an illustration of the legal principles of force majeure and frustration, and how contracts can be suspended or ended if an exceptional outside event interferes with the normal course of events.

Force majeure defined

Under English law, the concept of force majeure can only apply to the extent that there is an express clause in a contract – it cannot be implied. In essence, where there is a force majeure clause, the party relying upon it will need to demonstrate that a force majeure event has occurred which is beyond its reasonable control; that the event has prevented, hindered, or delayed the performance of the contract and said party has taken all reasonable steps to avoid or mitigate the force majeure event.

As a result, the precise scope and consequences of coronavirus will need to be considered in the light of the specific wording in the contract. Where coronavirus is seen as a qualifying force majeure event, this will excuse a party’s non-performance or delay in performing its contractual obligations for as long as the event remains in place.

As this is a rule which protects a party against non-performance, the courts will interpret any clause strictly and the burden of proof will be on the party claiming force majeure to demonstrate that it has arisen and is the sole cause of delay or non-performance.

Coronavirus could qualify

If the force majeure clause refers expressly to epidemics or diseases, there is a reasonable chance that the virus will be seen as a qualifying force majeure event. Even if such wording is not present, many clauses refer to any circumstances beyond a party’s reasonable control and so it may also be possible to show that coronavirus should be viewed as a force majeure event.

Causation must be shown

As part of the strict interpretation of force majeure clauses, the English courts have stated that force majeure will only be available to excuse non-performance where the force majeure event is the sole reason for the non-performance so, if it is one of several reasons, force majeure will not apply. In addition, the party relying on force majeure will also need to demonstrate that it would have actually performed its obligations but for the force majeure event.

Notification requirements

Most force majeure clauses will have a clear notification procedure and a party seeking to rely upon the clause must follow the procedure to the letter in order to be able to claim that force majeure applies.

Legal effects of force majeure

While this will be covered by the express wording used, most clauses are drafted in such a way that the party affected by a force majeure event is excused from liability for as long as the force majeure event remains in place. In other words, the effect is only temporary, and the affected party will need to resume their obligations as soon as the force majeure event has passed.

Termination rights

In a well-drafted force majeure clause, there will be a provision which allows the party not affected by the force majeure event to be able to terminate the contract without liability in the event that the force majeure continues in place for a stated period. Such a clause ensures that the party not affected is not tied into a very long contract where the other party cannot perform its obligations for a significant time.

Coronavirus can frustrate a contract

If there is no force majeure clause, then the only way an affected party can avoid legal liability is through the legal concept of frustration. This requires a party to show that it is either physically or commercially impossible to perform a contract due to an interrupting event that has occurred since the contract was concluded, through no fault of the affected party.

The legal test for frustration is far stricter than that for force majeure as it requires a party to show that it is impossible to perform a contract (or that the obligations have become radically different).

The legal effects are more dramatic – if it is shown that frustration has occurred, the contract is automatically terminated and neither party has to perform any future obligations to the other.

Unfortunately, the case law on frustration is not as clear-cut as it could be. For example, although some cases refer to ‘commercial impossibility’ of performing a contract as being sufficient to show that frustration has occurred, other case law makes it very clear that simply because obligations become more expensive (and even uneconomic) to perform, this is not sufficient for frustration.

The courts, in recent years, have suggested that obligations need to become “radically different” after the event for frustration to apply; there is still room for debate as to exactly when performance moves from being more onerous to definitively ‘radically different’ or impossible.

In determining whether frustration has taken place, the court often has to undertake a complex assessment of all relevant circumstances, including: the terms of the contract; the factual background to the contract; the parties’ knowledge and expectations about risk; and the parties’ view as to the ability to perform the contract in circumstances which now amount to frustration.

Claiming that force majeure or frustration applies

It should be remembered that an assertion which later turns out to be incorrect about the ability to invoke force majeure or frustration could lead to the court rejecting the claim; meaning that the party making the claim is itself in breach of the contract, entitling the other party to terminate and claim damages arising as a result of the breach.

ABOUT HVP

Heating Ventilating & Plumbing (HVP) magazine is the leading plumbing and heating magazine for installers, getting the news to you first and crafting unbeatable journalism to give you the professional edge over your competitors.

SOCIAL LINKS

Coronavirus Update

In light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, some of you may not be able to receive your copy of HVP magazine. If you’d like to change your delivery address, please contact our subscriptions department at customer@hgluk.comRead a digital edition